tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87795242419148604742011-11-21T05:51:41.853Z<center><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2129/2374021512_7133897dda_o.jpg" border=2></center> <p>tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.comBlogger1091100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-43677593120941680702010-12-12T21:36:00.002Z2010-12-12T21:42:42.640Z

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } aut-leaves-nice-2467, originally uploaded by Sybariter.

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-74508416121176782702010-07-18T19:17:00.002+01:002010-07-18T19:22:20.457+01:00

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-78355878733245234102010-07-13T14:05:00.002+01:002010-07-13T14:07:55.873+01:00

Montserrat with Ceriann and Neil.

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-12473884608617879692010-05-25T15:44:00.003+01:002010-05-25T16:35:14.450+01:00

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-50990448539935923952010-05-13T20:41:00.003+01:002010-05-13T21:10:42.688+01:00

"Freak waves battered the southern French coast between Cannes and Nice on Tuesday afternoon (4.5.2010), causing major damage to beach constructions only a few days before the Cannes film festival is set to begin.Ten-metre-high waves (33 feet) battered the coastline, leaving one woman with a fractured leg and causing major material damage."There were very big waves this afternoon that caused

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-72588874984316227222009-10-30T16:03:00.001Z2009-10-30T16:03:46.730Z

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } boat-beach-cafe-s-remo-7941, originally uploaded by Sybariter.

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-33957810412038244492009-08-08T18:22:00.001+01:002009-08-08T18:22:03.940+01:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } nt-couple-5696, originally uploaded by Sybariter. South Bank 7-8-09

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-26238182055418962922009-07-17T16:34:00.005+01:002009-07-17T16:39:59.822+01:00

Another reminder to always take the camera: I took a walk to Place Massena, Nice and came across Tango dancers ! Had to make do with the iphone:With his glam mum: A dance for all ages:OK, he's a bit too young:"You aint goin nowhere":"Don't stand so, don't stand too close to me ...":

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-63182180200434701202009-06-24T18:51:00.035+01:002009-06-29T22:37:09.334+01:00

I took a break from the Paris and had a weekend in the country with LEP and visited the kind of area around Paris frequently painted by the Impressionists. Now their paintings are extremely popular and the idea that they were political radicals seems bizarre. However they struggled against the authoritarian systems in the France of their time, most directly the Salon system, which regulated

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-28807050716482961682009-06-18T09:58:00.006+01:002009-06-19T17:19:45.964+01:00

Some people at Patricia's soirée on Sunday expressed interest in visiting the Trois Mailletz, my favourite Parisian bar, so we arranged to meet there on Tues 16th June:On the way I did my own little tour in the tracks of Sartre and De Beauvoir, partly because I'm reading a book about them: "Dangerous Liasons".Jardins du Luxembourg, where they were taken as children:and where they went as students

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-56316778230281639802009-06-14T10:40:00.009+01:002009-06-14T13:38:31.808+01:00

June 10th 2009After a hard afternoon in the net cafe, a couple of beers in a bar, where two women are having a serious discussion, ah, these French intellectuals:The book: "Je chante le corps critique: Les usages politiques du corps" de Claude Guillon Usé par le travail, génétiquement modifié par les polluants industriels, formaté par la publicité, la mode et la pornographie, le corps humain

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-9613637465739195242009-06-11T13:58:00.012+01:002009-06-12T23:56:06.075+01:00

I'm back in Paris for a much-needed two weeks stay there. I went back to the Caveau de la Huchette, where Nico and the Rhythm Dudes were playing. Sadly, the barman, my pal, Ignacio, retired two years ago, but I chatted a bit with the new barman and we shook hands when I left.On the way I had a meal at Espace Petit Pont, by the Seine. A huge coktail with firework in it was delivered to four

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-55404057335902533442009-06-04T20:08:00.003+01:002009-06-04T21:28:07.129+01:00

Waiting to be amused."You lucky people!""I only look odd to normal people.""Don't try dressing like this to go to a late-night kebab place - unless you have my conflict management skills."

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-58717039914307632732009-06-03T14:25:00.001+01:002009-06-05T14:59:35.291+01:00

Palais de JusticeI removed a motorcyclist, if only one could do this in reality - on a mass scale :-)Distilleries Ideales - nice pub. We tend not to look up - never noticed this before - Nicois poet.Hadn't noticed this before either, though I must have passed it dozens of times.Waiting for the tram.

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-21604513964880558022009-05-04T19:42:00.045Z2009-05-19T15:21:27.971Z

I had thought this was going to be a fairly short, light piece, but when I got back and started reading more about Rapallo, I learned about some darker aspects and connections between art, treason and conspiracy. It falls into two sections, so if you prefer the lighter version, jump off at the blue palm. If you are into history and intellectual debates about art and politics, the CIA and

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-59263996154603153232009-04-29T19:25:00.004Z2009-04-29T21:04:54.791Z

After two days of almost continuous rain, rare for here, the observatory not the usual etched white dome:Blue skies are back:So one feels like walking - in the old town:It seems to have been quite an artistic area - once:Today you can study the new media - and sports journalism has become so absurdly dominant it has its own course:Monument to Catherine Segurane:On Rue Segurane:Letter from Nice

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-54978773109879645232009-04-22T18:33:00.004Z2009-04-22T19:11:44.839Z

On the way, in the ecologically responsible tram: "To save the planet - get out of capitalism": I stopped off at this bar, because I'd read that they had a singer that night. That's her, with cigarette:This reminds me of Van Gogh on a cafe he painted:"In my picture of the 'Night Café' I have tried to express the idea that the café is a place where one can ruin oneself, go mad or commit a crime.

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-53382702597601269722009-04-20T13:30:00.000Z2009-04-22T19:14:36.236Z

Sunday 19th we went to Cannes to see the World Photography show, but first lunch on the beach, with added heater for M:It was SO peaceful:"She used to be devoted to ME!":On to the exhibition - not without some confusion, it wasn't very clearly signposted, so it was not surprising that it was not crowded. But then the Rotonde exhibition space is so vast, even quite a big show like this was

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-21924313503886361022009-04-19T09:33:00.005Z2009-04-19T10:23:27.451Z

Sat. 18th April 2009To the market in our quartier, which is happily named Liberation - as if living in Rue Diderot wasn't enough: "Allo M. Photographe!"Banana republican"What do you think?" " ... mmmmm"In the afternoon I went to Fnac to listen to Anne Nivat, journalist, talk about her experience in Chechnya, Afghanistan, Iraq - a brave and dedicated woman:“I’ve felt fear which has displaced

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-47615070400815244212009-04-15T18:52:00.001Z2009-04-17T19:06:12.107Z

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-46208671418688223872009-04-12T12:11:00.004Z2009-04-12T16:03:42.607Z

Sat 11th April, we went to Casino Ruhl, Nice for the cabaret and dinner:Publicity photo: http://www.nice-premium.com/article/illusion-passion-nouvelle-revue-et-rentree-du-casino-ruhl-de-nice.2465.htmlThis was an example of the value of keeping informed; I saw in Nice-Matin that there was a special offer, with the N-M coupon, of two tickets for the price of one. At 65 euros for a three course meal

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-42890931636901535052009-04-06T14:06:00.004Z2009-04-12T19:47:11.880Z

Sunday 5th April we went to Cap Ferrat, because I have been reading Michael Powell's autobiography and his father had a hotel there, from about 1925, which they renamed the Voile d'Or (Golden Sail). When they had it, it was quite a modest place, but with stunning views, and his father never made much money from it. From a bit earlier, but I don't suppose it had changed much by the 1920s, how

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-27776477715565535832009-04-04T13:58:00.000Z2009-04-11T14:02:23.236Z

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-71239161340079832042009-03-22T14:48:00.003Z2009-03-22T14:55:59.416Z

Another St. Patrick's day, as an Irish barman at "Paddy's Bar" said: "It's an excuse to continue the Carnaval" - doubtless St. P's was another imposition of Christian dominance over older pagan festivals. St. P's day is on the supposed date of his death - seems a good reason to celebrate.  I drink in sympathy with the poor bloody Irish who suffered not only British rule, but centuries of

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-76082963844300966422009-03-07T12:37:00.002Z2009-03-07T12:40:24.711Z

From my diary at www.eurotrib.comA Nice mixLet's take another break from all this abstract EU stuff  - not to mention what Marx called "economic shit":We recall Marx writing to Engels (in 1857!) saying that he hoped to have done with the "economic shit" within 1-2 years. I myself have studied "economic questions" for years, and have also spent years in recovery from the novicained, ashes- in- the

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-6960694164511933902009-01-13T18:03:00.008Z2009-01-23T19:23:51.857Z

8th Jan. 2009. A very cold night - for Nice - but decided to go out to a jazz session in a bistro in Rue Fodere, near the port. I'm glad I did - a very pleasant, photogenic evening - starting with the Xmas lights as I got off the tram at Place Garibaldi:Jazz By ted welchView in HD  Download 480p Version  Visit ted welch's ExposureRoom Videos Page

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-84910224953880450472009-01-01T22:35:00.002Z2009-01-03T11:09:53.539Z

Eze, France, 2008-9 By ted welchView in HD  Download 480p Version  Visit ted welch's ExposureRoom Videos Page

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-55947469865760111312008-12-27T10:38:00.005Z2008-12-29T19:25:33.674Z

AuribeauAuribeau sur Siagne France By ted welchView in HD  Download 480p Version  Visit ted welch's ExposureRoom Videos PageMouginsMougins, France By ted welchView in HD  Download 480p Version  Visit ted welch's ExposureRoom Videos PageCannesCannes By ted welchView in HD  Download 480p Version  Visit ted welch's ExposureRoom Videos PageGenoaGenoa, Italy, at Christmas By ted welchView in HD  

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-51943637402663508772008-12-16T11:50:00.005Z2008-12-29T19:03:18.200Z

JazzJazz, bar in Nice By ted welchView in HD  Download 480p Version  Visit ted welch's ExposureRoom Videos Page

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-45079469474813427532008-12-09T12:39:00.002Z2008-12-09T12:56:35.033Z

The market at Place de Gaulle, Liberation, Nice:"When you dance, hold the woman like this."The Christmas fair, Nice:

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-64305513098118448292008-12-06T19:17:00.006Z2008-12-06T22:14:07.655Z

The lovely views from Anne-Marie and David's terrace:The excellent meal:Games - Anne-Marie explains the rules:a puzzling bit:THe fun bit:Gifts for the guests and work for the hosts after a very nice afternoon:

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-35065314683665907642008-12-05T21:01:00.001Z2008-12-06T22:04:14.391Z

Place Massena:Cours Saleya:First drink in the Thor pub:How long does this introduction to the first wine go on ? Down to business:

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-55225101412597837762008-11-28T23:12:00.004Z2008-11-28T23:18:30.362Z

The show:The theatre:The performance (low light so the photos are "atmospheric" :-))There was a bit too much emphasis on realism for my taste - even real cigarettes on stage (amazed intake of breath when they did it for the FIRST time from two women behind us - I'm sure it was against fire regulations). I would have preferred a pretty straight performance of the songs rather than all the poverty

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-46418257178329158342008-11-25T12:12:00.003Z2008-11-25T12:31:31.913Z

Rotonde at the Negresco, Nice, Sunday 23rd Nov.:with Christian and Sigrid:After the meal:Nice sky:The bar of the Meridien:Which has a very nice view of the Promenade des Anglais:

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-48615597482119408222008-11-18T14:23:00.003Z2008-11-18T14:31:02.978Z

Sunday we went to Cagnes and had lunch at La Bourride and had a table looking out over the old port:Choosing is a serious business :"The port is unique on this part of the coast as it is still used solely by fisherman. The private yachts that dominate the marinas in nearby towns such as Antibes and Cannes are nowhere to be seen":After the meal a stroll by the sea:where there was an exhibition of

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-10779868506270995762008-11-11T18:24:00.003Z2008-11-11T19:46:50.315Z

I often have a drink in this bistro, the Gambetta, in the LIberation ! area of Nice and is just a short walk away. Last week I noticed that they were having an "Oriental evening", very reasonable for couscous meal, half a bottle of wine and the dancing, so booked and we went last night. I wondered whether it would popular, it was:M. joined in

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-81323440132951922852008-11-08T20:04:00.000Z2008-11-11T20:10:28.941Z

After the terrace of the Grand Aston, a drink in Cours Saleya:

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-5758444081371501282008-11-06T19:47:00.001Z2008-11-11T20:11:33.872Z

Then:NowA greener tomorrow? The title of the restaurant "Le Long Cours" seems apt:But back here - time to relax:Then the clouds rolled in and we had more storms.

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-71938696603365808252008-10-18T11:57:00.004Z2008-10-18T12:35:45.910Z

As Fran pointed out (eurotrib.com), 15th October was Nietzsche's birthday. He urged others to "live dangerously" - but he didn't do extreme sports :-) His life was very much one of the mind and the danger was in challenging his culture's most basic assumptions and values. He would not be surprised to learn that he is widely misundertood now, he was widely misunderstood in his own time:It has been

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-38960726900136749202008-10-16T13:20:00.011Z2008-10-16T13:57:57.160Z

On Monday's TV news McCain told his supporters (as I remember it): "They say those who ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it." Of course he doesn't want to offend Joe Sixpack by coming over as an east-coast, liberal elitist, so he used the folksy "they say", rather than "the Spanish philosopher Santayana said". 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'Life of Reason,

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-51890490831878113762008-06-15T12:13:00.011+01:002008-06-16T14:42:52.588+01:00

The heavy clouds over Nice led some of us to leave our sunglasses at home - only to be dazzled by the sun in a cloudless sky in Juan-les-Pins at 7pm:After the beach, Pousse Pousse, a Thai restaurant and Anne-Gaelle's birthday:Montserrat demonstrates her knowledge of gang hand-signs.James prepares to crown Liz: "Mother of the night" - while Tom dreams of kids' meet-ups with an earlier finish:

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-87924529454093742902008-05-09T21:01:00.013Z2008-05-12T12:16:31.703Z

Saorge is a very beautiful medieval village perched along a narrow rock spur that juts out into the Vallée de la Roya, high above the river. Saorge is classed as one of the "40 most beautiful villages of France".http://www.beyond.fr/villages/saorge.htmlTo get to Saorge from Nice, the A8 takes one into Italy, before the S20 goes back into France and to Saorge. We stopped off in Airole, an Italian

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-49093892885058474412008-05-06T20:04:00.003Z2008-05-09T22:44:38.361Z

Sat. 3rd May Montserrat, her sister Marie and I went to Lac Saint Cassien. Marie, who'd been before, suggested it - what a wonderful, unspoiled place!"This beautiful, wild lake is about 7 km long north-south, with an east-west section another 3 km long. With its southern tip adjacent to the autoroute, only 12 km west of Cannes, the Lac de St. Cassien is easy to get to, but remains natural in a

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-44877825149926109252008-04-23T08:59:00.002Z2008-04-23T09:06:06.605Z

Recently, exploring the area NE of Nice, we ended up at La Turbie, high above Monaco. Later exploration of the background to a famous monument there once again led to some surprising links with present-day politics.As we walked through the village, we had to pass through a group of mourners in a street outside a church - nobody was taking photos and neither did I. It was a lovely day, which

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-37762658203817687992008-03-28T10:04:00.023Z2008-03-30T20:00:39.214Z

March 2008Having "done" Venice - http://homepage.mac.com/tedwelch/venice and Florence - http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2008/1/24/20310/9033 , this time we went to Bologna, Ferrara and Rimini. M in Piazza Maggiore, Bologna."La rossa"I'd been to Bologna a couple of times already and I like it that it's not for us, i.e. tourists. The city is quite prosperous and was run by communists for many years,

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-29890426992869142772008-03-04T13:21:00.014Z2008-03-05T12:24:46.546Z

Sunday 2nd March, 2008:The micro-climate that Menton enjoys explains her economy, which at one time was mainly the cultivation of citrus fruits and olives. It is the only European town in which lemons flourish and bear fruit all year round....To celebrate Menton's roots in citrus fruit cultivation, the town hosts her Fête des Citrons (lemon festival) once per year. It is a unique event that

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-42568992593093809182008-02-29T20:23:00.002Z2008-03-02T10:27:45.662Z

Drama just across the road in the morning. It became clear after some time that this wasn’t the checks on immigrants I had imagined it to be - but rather the re-enactment of a crime, with witnesses directing two young policemen who were playing the roles of those involved in the case. "It happened down here" - (prisoner in white trousers with police body-armour):It seemed one guy had gone down in

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-36784806090494343722008-02-23T22:52:00.002Z2008-02-23T23:07:41.915Z

Best view from Méridien Hotel terrace bar:Battle of flowers:Flower dancers:Bye - for this year:

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-26437548020257256332008-02-13T20:02:00.003Z2008-02-13T20:15:41.603Z

Sunday 10th Feb. and it's Mimosa time in the south. We went to Theole, very picturesque:But the two restaurants on the beach were full, so we drove on to La Napoule and found a table with a nice view:Then we drove through the mimosa to Tanneron, stopping for the view on the way:Some people tore down armfuls, to M's disgust, who took only a tiny souvenir:

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-76385163755929183902008-01-02T18:47:00.001Z2008-02-13T20:29:18.815Z

On Boxing day we set off from Nice for Florence. Luckily we had good weather, blue sky almost every day.Florence from the Pitti PalaceA room with a view We stayed just outside the centre, at the top of the Bobboli Gardens, which are behind the Pitti Palace. Our hotel was Villa Carlotta, with a nice view from our room which probably hadn't changed much in centuries:The first day we went to the

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-7774425355636419252007-12-22T11:08:00.000Z2007-12-22T11:13:23.692Z

On the way to the La Petite Maison in the old town, Place Massena - with the other thinkers:Though we’d booked for 10 pm, it was still packed, so we went to the Thor pub in Cours Saleya for half an hour:La PM isn’t really the place for an intimate evening; it’s a favourite of local politicians and, after their conference in Nice recently, Sarkosy and Prodi and teams had lunch there - a place to

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-30345927667865222462007-12-21T21:54:00.000Z2007-12-21T21:56:48.028Z

Some sun and great aquatic photography, currently exhibited on the Promenade des Anglais :

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-67417151455067359812007-12-13T11:22:00.000Z2007-12-13T11:30:38.285Z

While it's unfortunate that M has to work, at least in France she gets a civilised 1 1/2 hours for lunch, and, as she works just a couple of minutes from the sea, we can have lunch on the beach - sun hot but a cool wind:I try to do my share, so in the evening I did a fish and potato pie, looked good, tasted - OK. M was encouraging, she hopes I'll do more - and better.

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-56523311943948285872007-12-10T14:28:00.001Z2007-12-10T17:32:29.454Z

On Sunday 9th Dec., after a wet start to the day, the sky cleared and we went with Sigrid and Christain to the Club Nautique for lunch. The club's beach (La Réserve in the background):The view from the terrace: After lunch at the Club, we walked round to La Réserve and had drinks in its bar with great view; Montserrat, Christain and Sigrid:Montserrat (with fill-in light from the mirror):In the

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-43957617943400810362007-12-03T17:16:00.000Z2007-12-07T17:34:45.265Z

Sat. 1st Dec - celebration of the re-opening of the market - now tram works are almost finished:"I have just the flower for you"."Let's dance!" - he was too enthusiastic, there was no way she was going to dance in that outfit."Smile - you brats"

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-10743216411709448452007-12-02T20:14:00.000Z2007-12-07T17:36:12.660Z

On Friday at about lunch-time I wandered into Nice's old town and came across this scene:It reminded me of the "What is it?" subject sometimes used in the Friday photo-blog on www.eurotrib.com - I had no idea what this was all about.Some of them sounded Italian:I followed them to La Petite Maison, recently revealed in Nice Matin to be the favourite restaurant of the mayor and local political

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-89442554595839331852007-11-28T18:28:00.000Z2007-11-29T23:44:26.023Z

We went to see “An Inconvenient Truth” at the Mercury Cinema (echoes of Orson Welles?) in Nice, which was followed by a discussion organised by a Cafe Cine group. In the title of my diary on Stone’s film “Wall Street” I said that greed was glamourous and deadly. In this case we come to the truly deadly consequences of our greed, which threaten to kill all of us.Future generations ? The film was

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-2803776642698261662007-11-24T20:36:00.000Z2007-11-24T21:58:18.407Z

... est arrivé ! (Nov. 24th)A surprisingly large number of people turned out for the free ride offered on the first day, unusually dull and wet for Nice.It didn't seem like much of a liberation; although they were very frequent ...... they were VERY crowded. This one closed its doors and stayed at the stop for about two minutes - I was happy to wait for a quiet time one day next week.Lots of the

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-91237237870191570372007-11-21T21:25:00.000Z2007-11-21T21:58:09.532Z

A while ago I thought the streets I lived in were telling me something ( my “Haunted by Philosophers” post Haunted ), now it seems as if I’m getting messages from the media. Don’t worry - I think I’m OK. :-) Recently I bought the DVD of Oliver Stone’s "Wall Street". I still found it quite powerful. I thought I might write about it, linking it to the current crisis brought on by the “greed is

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-60976189831960153402007-08-08T15:57:00.000Z2007-08-19T17:34:48.624Z

Recently we took a trip back in time, we went to the Fete Medievale in Cagnes sur Mer. In the afternoon there was a tournament, with jousting and hand-to-hand fights: The kids in the audience loved it - was this encouraging aggression and sadism? Oh well, I played cowboys and Indians as a kid and I hate wars. However, this bit of escapism, into the era of chivalry and rescued damsels, has

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-63091886123600755122007-08-03T23:09:00.000Z2007-08-03T23:11:36.042Z

The French, and especially their fonctionnaires, are often unfairly criticized. It's another one of those cultural myths, unfortunate memes. In general I have found that, surprise, surprise, they are quite reasonable and often pleasant and helpful - and so are some in business - even a lawyer! :-). Yesterday we visited the dept which deals with international applicants for inclusion in the French

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-52374429394260365842007-07-27T22:47:00.000Z2007-07-29T22:51:59.336Z

Thursday evening we went to see "The Good Shepherd".The title itself suggests the resistance to the usual commercial norms of the film (the French title is "Raisons d'Etat"), it is also nearly three hours long, has a complex time structure - jumping backwards and forwards), an intelligent script - so even I, who already knows quite a bit about the CIA, Cold War, etc., was grateful to Wikipedia

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-63501511471337288062007-07-22T15:53:00.000Z2007-07-22T19:08:20.673Z

of what we are trying to preserve with energy policies which will help avoid climate change:Nice has a lovely museum of Asiatic Art in beautiful grounds with pool close to Phoenix Parc. It is an example of what stste/local taxes provide, though sadly there were very few people there, though the beaches of Nice are packed at the moment."Le plan de ce musée posé sur un lac artificiel parcouru

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-85553033313995970332007-07-20T17:26:00.000Z2007-07-27T16:09:48.994Z

After the Eurotrib Paris meetup we went to M's relatives, first to her parents who live close to the Marne river:It's a lovely, tranquil place - now:Miracle of the MarneBut, as with so much of France, it has seen its fair share of horrors. In fact it's where the Germans lost the First World War, in the first weeks of the first year - but the war dragged bloodily on for four years - slaughter on

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-46913411756741434782007-07-14T12:44:00.000Z2007-07-23T13:38:14.661Z

July 14th is a very appropriate day here in France to try to conclude some thoughts about the military (that was a bit optimistic and, as usual, it's grown). It also coincides with the publication in the US of an edition of the magazine The Nation which has interviews with 50 Americans who have served in Iraq. The image which emerges hardly matches the usual official line:It is an axiom of

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-69723366584521193182007-07-08T20:34:00.000Z2007-07-12T09:19:37.080Z

I don't usually like organised things which are mainly for tourists, but as my angel wanted to do a trip on a Bateau Parisian - that made it quite different. However the evening started badly, the parking area was full and we were directed to the parking at Musee Quai Branly. But there was a very posh reception at the Musee (it was probably to celebrate its first anniversary and success in

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-29120961695342843522007-06-24T16:54:00.000Z2007-06-26T11:19:13.420Z

The ETers in Paris 07I got to the RV at Les Abbesses late, but Len and Helen were still there and we joined the rest of the group at Bateau Lavoir where Afew was lamenting the lack of interest in the cultural history of the area in favour of keeping up the bohemian tradition and rapidly getting something alcoholic rather than artistic or historic.Lilianne, Bob, Dasmonde, Metavision,(?), Afew (

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-91205345286316465002007-06-12T14:33:00.000Z2007-06-12T20:06:12.439Z

Writing diaries (for www.eurotrib.com ) Warning - it can get addictive - we are social animals and relationships are very important (cf BBC series on Happiness) and getting respect is very important - from being a “made man” in the Mafia, to getting an honorary doctorate, or becoming a member of the French Academy. So once one gets some recommendations for one’s diary, one starts to want more.

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-40522378838530955332007-06-06T19:11:00.000Z2007-06-07T11:58:45.689Z

Another "slow" day in Nice (cf.: Slow and happy).(Updated 2 pm 7.6.07)Montserrat insisted that I leave the computer and that we get out early (well, just after 11) - so we walked down to the old town and looked round the Palais Lascaris:In the 17th century, the baroque look and feel of the Old Town came into being. If you look above the doorways, many buildings have their year of construction

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-81843339388390460352007-06-05T21:00:00.000Z2007-06-06T21:09:35.589Z

The other day I teased Jerome (at www.eurotrib.com) about being so productive and warned about “burnout”. I’m retired, but still don’t seem to have much time. I was up till 1am doing some Eurotrib and blog stuff on Saturday. Sunday morning I researched and wrote the diary entry “NYT has more ‘Sicko’ news”. After lunch I walked down to the Promenade des Anglais and sat in one of the beach cafes.

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-53373525186464443482007-06-03T08:14:00.000Z2007-06-03T12:50:45.813Z

Michael Moore's "Sicko" opened at Cannes recently. In this interview with Bill Maher, Moore says he's still recovering from praise from Fox News and condemns the "health" and drug corporations in the US. He says it's not only that millions of Americans have no health insurance, but also that the health insurance corporations try to maximise profits by avoiding making payments, a situation made

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-91590232038521590712007-06-02T13:40:00.000Z2007-06-02T20:45:55.891Z

Traffic seems likely to get more confused/confusing. They are now changing the one-way systems of lots of streets and changing bus routes and stops. Traffic will now be able to come UP the main street, Av. Jean Medecin, from the sea to the station - but I doubt if it will make the traffic in our street (Rue Diderot) any calmer:They are makng sure that the main Square - Massena - is ready for the

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-78224725407252829292007-06-01T20:46:00.000Z2007-06-02T23:15:52.328Z

Another lovely day in Nice - till 7pm when there was a downpour, but by then I was just round the corner from the apartment.There was also a festival of Italian food and wine on the Promenade des Anglais:"I say - this is in awfully bad taste !""Since these are the most powerful olives in the world and because, in all this excitement I forget how much chili I added, you have to ask yourself a

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-74271662449818934312007-05-29T22:51:00.000Z2007-06-02T13:00:08.552Z

28.5.2007Cagnes used to be a quiet little fishing village, now it's an more peaceful extension of tourist-filled Nice:The view from Haut de Cagnes, the landscape is now tranquil: But was once dangerous and this fortified village was a retreat:Now its war function has changed: "Art not war"There are studio-galleries everywhere:Alleyways which might have seen fierce fighting now seem romantic:But

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-24564707901355613482007-05-20T11:10:00.000Z2007-05-20T16:37:23.019Z

Sarkozy is the first French president who was not alive during WWII, so, while making a visit to Germany, now an important political and trading partner, he made clear his respect for the French Resistance: "... the new head of state did not wait long to depart from past protocol. On his way to the airport for his flight to Berlin, his motorcade made a highly symbolic stop at a monument

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-43824922304613082972007-05-17T20:41:00.000Z2007-05-17T21:09:08.130Z

Sunday 13th May We went up to Cimiez - an area very favoured by British royalty; as an Edward I felt quite at home:There was Queen Victoria in front of Hotel Regina, looking all compassionate, despite ruling an imperial system:But in the Parc it was a very French event:There what was a Franciscan monastery there, with lovely views and flowers:

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-45596625028028831192007-05-13T07:53:00.000Z2007-05-13T23:02:34.933Z

British historian's violent arrest in US - a "wonderful experience"Browsing the net I came across a link to this on YouTube:It's an interview with a British historian about his violent arrest for jaywalking while at an academic conference in Atlanta, Georgia.I didn't think it would merit 3 episodes, totalling about 25 minutes, but it is fascinating, funny and a bit frightening; it makes one

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-90711765570972440242007-05-08T06:18:00.000Z2007-05-12T08:32:55.225Z

After Sarkozy's regrettable win, I updated the end of my earlier post:streetsand posted it in the diaries sections of http://www.eurotrib.com and http://www.progressivehistorians.comThis is the new conclusion:A new Napoleon ?In Rue Cassini, which runs almost parallel with the smaller Rue Bonaparte, there was the local election headquarters of another small man, Sarkozy, who also wants to run

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-69254086992320665202007-05-07T10:21:00.000Z2007-05-10T20:46:57.796Z

Sunday 6th May - a beautiful day at Gallion plage, Nice (not rare in Nice but lucky as it had been a bit cloudy the previous few days) This was with the Nice Meet-up group, organised and "animated" by Maria and James.Maria is behind the yellow flowers.James in sympathetic mode when asked why there is only water left."So I slapped him hard" - "Good for you. I would have used my bag!" But

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-69337394484701558952007-05-06T10:02:00.000Z2007-05-12T08:30:31.249Z

Saturday, 5th May, 2007The fountain in Place Massena has been reinstalled as the tramway nears completion. Ironically there was a tramway at the beginning of the 20th century, before the city was dominated by cars and the noisier motorbikes and scooters. What a nice atmosphere then, with pedestrians free to wander in peace:Nice-MatinBy the early 1960s cars had begun to take over the square -

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-61445534769340392932007-05-01T08:19:00.001Z2007-05-02T09:35:46.675Z

Sunday 29th AprilHaving had a nice time at a dance at the Beaulieu Casino, just above the beach, on Friday evening, we decided to visit it during he day - anoher nice one, with just a few clouds in the hills. In the evening we went to the more picturesque harbour at Villefrancheand indulged ourselves in with a meal at Mere Germaine, in business since 1938 and now internationally recognisedAn

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-71609080075483196932007-04-30T21:48:00.000Z2007-05-02T07:51:54.796Z

Monday 30th AprilThe day began wonderfully; I checked my latest diary entry on www.eurotrib.com : Haunted by Philosophers (also posted here), a bit apprehensive that it might have been criticised or ignored. In fact it had been supported as a recommended diary by 11 members and the first comment was this:"As the proprietor of ProgressiveHistorians, a community site dedicated to the intersection

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-17165555720900012212007-04-26T20:26:00.000Z2007-04-26T21:09:28.396Z

France remains a rather macho country - despite Royal at least getting to round two in the presidential election - so when some women saw 12 men in a kitchen they could hardly believe their eyes - and some guys wore funny aprons to show it was all a bit of a joke. It was the third of three classes in cookery and for this final one (20.4.07) we had to create a dinner for the women of the Nice

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-84652877014274326182007-04-24T06:00:00.000Z2007-04-28T10:03:06.053Z

I am haunted by philosophers. When I moved to Paris last year I rented a small house in the same road where Lenin had lived from Dec 1908 to July 1909. It was in 1908 that Lenin wrote his philosophical work: "Materialism and Empirio-Criticism." Its merits as a work of philosophy have been questioned: e.g.: "... the people who could find novelty and wisdom in the ideas of Mussolini and discover

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-74797619490792425082007-04-15T21:57:00.000Z2007-04-23T11:53:55.969Z

I met Tom, an American, at the Acceuil Villes Francaises in Nice. He suggested that he and a female journalist who is interested in Chomsky (who wishes to remain anonymous, so let's call her J ), and I meet for a chat in the bar at the Negresco - what else ? As George Clooney would say. Tom had also just been through the fatiguing business of looking for a new apartment and I was tired from the

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-84798451275301183572007-04-06T22:08:00.000Z2007-04-09T08:15:02.140Z

Recently we went to see "The Departed" ("Les Infiltres" here), which is based on the Hong Kong series of three movies "Infernal Affairs".We saw it at The Mercury in Garibaldi Square, Nice, close to an appropriately bohemian cafe where people play chess (many of them Russian emigres from nearby posters about Russian cultural events). The cinema shows an impressive number of films in VO,

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-6520951005474325582007-04-06T10:33:00.000Z2007-04-16T21:55:51.705Z

Thurs evening we went to Pailais Mediteranee for a Celtic dance show I was particularly pleased that in the 10 minute break we were able to get into the gaming room bar, get a drink and get back just as the show started again. After the show we went up to the bar on the third floor which has a magnificent terrace with view of the sea, though it was too cold to sit outside - must try it one

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-27771775900612033872007-03-27T20:07:00.000Z2007-05-09T19:40:07.735Z

Just up the street from us and to the left, there is a small road where we get our laundry done - it's election year, as even their window, filled with flat irons from when laundry was even harder work, cheekily reminds us (with models of Royale and Sarkozy):But in 1794 a small, somewhat insignificant man walked in this road (which was then the road to VilleFranche), for nine months, leaving and

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-27229700603147985172007-03-26T09:10:00.000Z2007-03-27T09:49:43.307Z

One of the good things about being in the Port area of Nice (till we move to the north of the city in April) is that there are so many bars, small theatres and restaurants in the area. I noticed a poster for one which had jazz on sat night, so though feeling a bit lazy, we made the very tiny effort to walk round the corner. We just wanted to drink, but unfortunately were given a table which,

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-89715678464881603352007-03-24T22:20:00.000Z2007-03-26T23:23:48.512Z

Fri. I had some more work done on my teeth, including whitening (years of coffee and red wine had taken their toll). Afterwards the dentist (who speaks English quite well, but is apologetic about it, like a lot of French - it's because they don't like to make errors according to Polly Platt in "French or Foe"), told me to avoid tobacco, coffee and red wine. I said I didn't smoke but the red wine

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-84020655626150267132007-03-24T18:54:00.000Z2007-03-27T09:05:26.579Z

Fri. I went to the first morning of a short cookery course, organized by the local AVF (Accueil des Villes Francaises) - for men ! We took most of it very seriously, even exactly how to cut up tinned tomatoes: M. had bought me a very elegant 'tablier" from Habitat - elegance is a necessity in all things for her: Les recettes:A woman looks doubtful about this stuff cooked up by us guys: But it was

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-23166200265913842762007-03-22T22:50:00.000Z2007-03-26T23:17:28.704Z

An Iraq Interrogator's NightmareBy Eric Fair [I'm not making this up!] Friday, February 9, 2007; Page A19"A man with no face stares at me from the corner of a room. He pleads for help, but I'm afraid to move. He begins to cry. It is a pitiful sound, and it sickens me. He screams, but as I awaken, I realize the screams are mine.That dream, along with a host of other nightmares, has plagued me

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-46161395354502928692007-03-22T21:45:00.000Z2007-03-22T23:12:30.998Z

As I said in the cafe-philo on Monday, now there is the internet and you can, from the comfort of your home in Nice, for example, read blogs of Iraqis living through the war. You can also, thanks to www.YouTube.com, listen to an American-Iraqi rapper, TIMZ. I don't usually like rap, with its often absurd glorification of violence and misogynistic attitudes, but this one is different, a serious

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-1814879822217855772007-03-22T11:39:00.000Z2007-03-22T12:15:17.708Z

Tuesday we went to an AVF meeting (Accueil des Villes Francaises) which was to discuss future activities and the election of a new president. Some food was available (mainly salad, but anyway, we'd already eaten), and people brought drinks - M had got two bottles of Kir Royale. Pub-philo ?After some eating and drinking, and the announcement of her candidature for the role of president of the Nice

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-9696889776275083332007-03-22T10:21:00.000Z2007-03-22T10:46:21.823Z

It was appropriate that, after the cafe-philo evening, the next day I finally got around to taking a photo of the plaque commemorating Nietzsche's first winter stay just down the road, at 38, Rue Catherine Segurane:"He then moved farther [19] west to Nice, where both the elegance of the old city [20] and the power of the sea [21] [22] [23] captivated him. Nietzsche also enjoyed vigorous walks in

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-5853858169627675012007-03-20T12:11:00.000Z2007-03-22T11:37:24.836Z

Monday we went to that very French institutuion, a cafe-philosophy meeting. This one was at the Brasserie Felix Faure (once again just a walk away):"Toute la variété et tout le savoir-faire d'une grande brasserie... La clientèle, essentiellement niçoise ... Dans cette immense brasserie au style très parisien, on sert en continu jusqu'à tard le soir."http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/restaurants_nice/

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-27823907032737771432007-03-18T18:02:00.000Z2007-03-21T23:15:35.957Z

Saturday we walked by the Port and round to the Promenade des Anglais, to be reminded how lucky we are by the tents of the homeless - though if you are homeless there are far worse places to set up temporary home: We went along to the Lido Plage for beers and for M to read some stuff about getting work while I continued with Mark Leonard's "Why Europe Will Run The 21st Century" - some eye-opening

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-47288381094255438772007-03-16T20:10:00.000Z2007-03-18T22:00:14.490Z

There are often complaints, from the French and ex-pats, about the number of fonctionnaires in France, and doubtless there might be some cuts. Many commercial organisations sometimes make ruthless cuts to make short-terms profits, then find it doesn't work, or leads to disaster, e.g.:"BP baord [sic] directors were made aware of the link between spending cuts and poor maintenance at its Texas City

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-56523905550963938672007-03-11T11:21:00.000Z2007-03-18T21:41:12.164Z

The Nice Foire opened on Saturday March 10th - till Mar. 19th http://fdn.nicexpo.org/evenements/fdn/programme_eng.phpThere was a lot of very expensive furniture - but there was some good biere artisanale to sample from Mare Nostrum of Castillon.On the way back we came across Cham's a restaurant in Blvd Risso which was having oriental dancing that evening - which was quite lucky as it's only one

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779524241914860474.post-59131200755462706152007-03-09T21:03:00.000Z2007-03-10T18:09:17.915Z

France24, the rival to BBCWorld, CNN, SKY, is now available in English in France (previously you could only get it in English on the internet in France). BBCWorld increasingly gets on my nerves with the amount of time it gives to business and sport (now big business of course, and a useful way of keeping the masses distracted - "bread and circuses" - as Roman emperors understood). Taking culture

tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129114095659518377noreply@blogger.com2